Mobility Assistance in Forest Hills, MI

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Forest Hills, MI: the local picture

12%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17% in Kent County)

428

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

8.3 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Grand Rapids)

23%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Kent County)

About 532 Forest Hills residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (12%; 17% in Kent County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

428 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Forest Hills compared with Kent County and Michigan

Census figure	Forest Hills	Kent County	Michigan
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	12%	17%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.5%	5.3%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	29%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	27%	29%
Households with no vehicle	1.4%	6.2%	7.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$96,019	$56,894	—

Older residents in towns around Forest Hills

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
East Grand Rapids, MI	6.0 mi	1,291	12%
Kentwood, MI	7.4 mi	7,965	19%
Lowell, MI	7.5 mi	694	15%
Northview, MI	8.0 mi	3,341	12%
Grand Rapids, MI	8.4 mi	25,584	20%
Comstock Park, MI	11 mi	1,713	16%

Emergency hospitals near Forest Hills

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Spectrum Health	Grand Rapids, MI	8.3 mi	4 of 5	(616) 391-1774
Mercy Health Saint Mary's	Grand Rapids, MI	8.3 mi	3 of 5	(616) 685-5000

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest Hills. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance costs in Forest Hills

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $8,002 monthly median income of Forest Hills households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver for mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Mobility Assistance in Forest Hills: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Forest Hills?

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $8,002 monthly median income of Forest Hills households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

What does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near Forest Hills

More senior care near Forest Hills

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Forest Hills

More for Forest Hills families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Mobility Assistance at Home in Forest Hills, MI